BEIJING: US clothing retailer Gap has apologized to China over a T-shirt with a map showing the mainland but omitting Taiwan, becoming the latest foreign firm to run afoul of Beijing’s policy on the self-ruling island.
China, which considers Taiwan a rebel province awaiting reunification, has taken airlines, hotels and other companies to task in recent months for listing the island as a separate country on their websites.
The Gap shirt, which was sold in overseas markets, features a map of China, but Taiwan does not appear to the southeast of the country, according to a photo of the company’s online store posted on the Twitter account of the official People’s Daily newspaper.
The state-run Global Times newspaper said the map also omitted South Tibet and the South China Sea, and that it had prompted hundreds of people to complain on Gap’s official account on China’s Weibo microblogging website.
The US company issued its apology on Weibo late Monday, saying it “respects the integrity of China’s sovereignty and territory.”
“We are terribly sorry for this unintentional mistake. We are doing internal checks to correct the mistake as soon as possible,” Gap said.
“We have removed the product from the Chinese market and destroyed them all.”
The company said it strictly abides by Chinese law and will devote itself to greater scrutiny to avoid similar errors in the future.
The Global Times quoted Gap as saying that the T-shirt had not been released in China.
US hotel chain Marriott, Spanish clothing giant Zara and a slew of airlines have faced China’s wrath for not classifying Taiwan as part of China on their websites.
The White House hit back at the push earlier this month, calling the demands placed on airlines “Orwellian nonsense.”
The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration had sent a notice to 36 foreign airlines, including a number of US carriers, on April 25, asking them to comply with Beijing’s standards, according to the White House.
In January, Australia’s Qantas Airways changed its website classification of Taiwan and Hong Kong from separate countries to Chinese territories, blaming its earlier approach on an “oversight.”
Taiwan has been self-ruled since splitting from the mainland after a 1949 civil war, maintaining its own government, military and independent foreign policy.
Gap ‘terribly sorry’ over T-shirt China map without Taiwan
Gap ‘terribly sorry’ over T-shirt China map without Taiwan
SAL agrees $30m Aviapartner Liege acquisition to expand into Europe
RIYADH: SAL Saudi Logistics Services Co. has agreed to acquire Belgium-based Aviapartner Liege SA for €28 million ($30.3 million), giving the Saudi logistics firm a foothold at one of Europe’s major air cargo hubs.
Under a sale and purchase agreement signed with Aviapartner Belgium NV and Aviapartner Holding NV, SAL will acquire 100 percent of the company’s share capital on a cash-free, debt-free basis, according to a filing on Saudi Exchange.
The acquisition gives SAL a full operational presence at Liege Airport in Belgium, a key European cargo hub, and is expected to support the company’s long-term growth strategy.
SAL, which provides cargo handling and logistics services across Saudi airports, has been expanding its service portfolio as the Kingdom invests heavily in aviation and supply-chain infrastructure under Vision 2030.
In the Tadawul filing, the company stated: “This acquisition supports SAL’s international expansion strategy by establishing an operational footprint at a key European cargo hub, expanding its cargo ground handling and logistics service offerings at international airports, geographically diversifying its revenue streams, and leveraging operational synergies through access to established infrastructure, airline relationships, and a mature operating environment.”
The deal is strategically significant because Liege Airport has emerged as one of Europe’s most important air cargo hubs and a rapidly expanding gateway for global freight flows.
The Belgian airport is the fifth-largest cargo airport in Europe and has recorded strong growth in recent years, handling more than 1.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2025 as volumes rose about 14 percent year on year.
The transaction will be financed through the company’s available cash resources and remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Aviapartner Liege, based in Liege, Belgium, primarily provides ground handling and cargo services.
Financial disclosures show Aviapartner Liege generated revenues of €24.7 million in 2023, rising to €28.6 million in 2024 before declining to €24.3 million in 2025.
SAL said it expects the transaction to have a positive long-term impact on its financial performance following completion and consolidation of the acquired company’s financial results.
The company added that no related parties were involved in the transaction, which was signed on March 4.
